Does the name of a town in the United States really matter? Well, apparently not in Colorado.
No Name, Colorado – pop 269 2022 – Garfield County and a part of the Glenwood Springs area. Rumor has it that this name was chosen due to voters writing “No Name” on the ballots when the town was forming.
The age old question – and answer
Why ask “Why” when you can ask “Why Not”! That’s what the state of Arizona and North Carolina decided when they named their towns and they are still debating these questions.
When you’re on your next cross-country road trip in the United States, I suggest starting the debate for yourself and start on the West Coast to ask yourself “Why”? In Arizona and then get your answer, “Whynot”? when you hit North Carolina.
Why, Arizona – pop 102 – 2022 – unincorporated, according to wikipedia, in the community of Pima County. This name was decided on by the residents when forming during a voting of the town’s name. All of the residents wanted the town to be named “Y”. However, because of the pesky legalities, the name had to be at least three letters long so…Y became “Why” and thereends the question we all ask…Why, Arizona? Why?
Whynot, North Carolina – pop. 100 residents (approximately) founded in 1860 and is a part of the North Carolina Pottery Highway. During the voting of the new town’s name, one man got so fed up with the bureaucratic process that when the new residents around him continued to argue “Why not?!” for each suggestion he proclaimed “Let’s just call it Whynot and go home!” And that’s how legends are born!
Pardon our English
Many have heard of the following town names and either laughed the yoohoo! Out of our noses or dropping our jaws in “the horror!”. Me? I’m still finding remnants of yoohoo! in my car seats.
Here are just some of the facts to these known and less known towns that will keep your roadtripping interesting this summer.
Boring, Maryland – a part of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson area with a combined population of 50,000. Was originally named Fairview but changed due to all of the Fairviews along the railways. Now, it is named after postmaster, David Boring. It’s also known for its Boring Gas Engine Show and Flea Market.
Intercourse, Pennsylvania – pop 1,494 2022 – Nestled right near the town of Blue Ball, this town has provided many teenagers and teenage minded adults chuckles throughout the years. It is located, in all places, Amish country. Originally named Cross Keys after a local tavern. But how did it get its very suggestive name? Many theories are out there. Some conspiracy, some just absurd but the most factual theories is because of the two main roads that “Cross” each other and back in 1754, the word “intercourse” didn’t have a sexual connotation associated, so the name was very innocent then. Until the teenagers took over! Now it’s fun for all of us.
Climax, Georgia – pop. 276 2020 – part of Decatur county. Named Climax because it is near the highest part of the railroad and apparently, when you reach the top of this peak you get filled with such joy and overwhelming senses. So, after visiting Intercourse, PA, head on down to GA and get the full experience of your road trip. But don’t rush it or you might prematurely give up on your journey.
Rough and Ready, California – pop. 963 2010 – The town got its name from an old mining company out of Wisconsin during the California Gold Rush. The name of the company was “Rough and Ready” which is the nickname of our 12th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor. This is the only surviving of three towns in California that carried the same name.
Screamer, Alabama – pop. 17,146 2020 – In the county of Abbeville, Alabama sits this quiet little town of Screamer right next to the Georgia border. There is not much that can be found about this town. I guess those who know have been silenced.
Knockemstiff, Ohio – pop 4,564 2020 – There are many bar jokes, tall tales, and conspiracy theories debated as to how in the heck did this town get This name. Most rely on the tales of adulterers who were given a preacher’s advice to a wife to knock her cheating husband stiff. Others talk about this being a prominent moonshine town who created concoctions that would knock their consumer stiff after drinking. All of them are great stories and so many jokes to be had. Nonetheless, perhaps after a night over at Rough and Ready, California, you might want to or need to go to Knockemstiff, Ohio to blow off some steam.
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico – 6,005 2020 – This one is my favorite but only because I’ve been there and spent time in some of their hot springs. I was always interested in how the name got to be and learned, during this research, that this was all due to a radio show contest. The town was originally named Hot Springs. However, because a radio show contest announced to the world that the TV show “Truth or Consequences” will air their 10th anniversary show at any town in the United States willing to change their name to the show’s name, Hot Springs, New Mexico won the contest and is forever known as Truth or Consequences outliving the TV show that started all of this bewilderment.
Satan’s Kingdom, Vermont – or – Massachusetts – I guess the Kingdom is larger than we all wish. Let’s start with Vermont. Satan’s Kingdom, VT – 990 2020 – Once upon a time there was a farmer who was trying desperately to farm the land but exclaimed after many failed attempts “Nothing will grow here because it is Satan’s Kingdom!” due to the rocky and infertile soil. Right across the border of Massachusetts, Satan’s Kingdom continues to taunt the farmers with the same rocky and infertile land in the town of Satan’s Kingdom, Massachusetts – a non census town. Satan has his secrets here. This town is named also, as history recalls, when during a local sermon about the fires of a hell a parishioner saw through the stained glass windows a huge fire blazing on the Connecticut River and in horror of the site, yelled “Satan’s Kingdom is on fire!” Now that’s not a nice thing to say about Connecticut.
Hell, Michigan – pop. 72 2020 – Within the Livingston County of Michigan lies Hell. It seems that Hell is actually Heaven on Earth; well, according to the farmers there. Hell, Michigan got it’s name from the Hell Creek that runs along the side of the town. The farmers were so successful with their crops and said it was all due to the nutrients and abundance of water coming from Hell creek. They were so grateful for the crops born from the creek that they decided to pay homage and name the town Hell.
Why ya gotta be so rude?
Tightwad, Missouri
Nimrod, Minnesota
Ding Dong, Texas
What’s for dinner?
Two Egg, Florida
Hot Coffee, Mississippi
Ketchup Town, South Carolina
Candy Kitchen and Pie Town, New Mexico
